Group Support For Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disease that requires a treatment program. That program should include both individual counseling and group support. These two are important ingredients to the recovery and ongoing management of the disease. The individual help is a given and most will agree with it's importance.
The group support system is a powerful aid to staying sober and tool to meeting your maintenance goals. Group Support Provides: Support groups are a safety net that exposes those who need help with caring professional who have a compassion for those suffering from this disease An environment to share experiences with others who are going through the same disease.
There is a common trust factor where you can feel safe in expressing your thoughts, feelings and fears. You may feel comfortable about sharing something about your addiction that you may have previously kept hidden from others. In the group, the comfort level allows for these types of revelations. In revealing these situations, additional help can be realized.
There is a moral victory gained from being in the company of peer who really do understand. Professional group settings can foster opportunities to investigate and resolve possible family conflicts and alcoholic issues. Source of information Some support groups offer in addition to help for the alcoholic, support for their families as well.
These family support groups offer educational aids so that they can understand the disease and what it does to the one who has it. Relationships run smoother when understanding can be achieved about why people behave the way they do.
How To Find Support Groups:
1. Your physician or treatment center is one good source for finding support groups.
2. Recommendations from others you know who have gone through treatment.
3. Local phone books, community centers, or churches often have lists of local support groups.
4. Organizations have links on their Website to local groups.
Listing of some Support Groups:
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) This is a popular National group with local groups. They have well-known 12 step program for men and women who share their experiences, strengths and encourage each other to remain strong and to continue to resolve their common problems associated with alcoholism. There are no dues or fees for AA membership http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Did You Know
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The Addictive Side Of Alcoholism Yes, it is a disease, but Alcoholism is also an addiction.
It is the undeniable need for a drink that makes if an addiction.
It is the inability to stop at just one drink, and the level of difficulty in quitting, requiring professional assistance and the need for a support group to be able to kick the drinking habit; that makes Alcoholism an addiction.
Alcohol is after all a drug. As an addiction the condition is a progressive one. It changes in intensity growing and taking over like weeds in a garden.
Addiction robs the drinker of the ability to see beyond the haze of alcohol to the reality of situations. They may see an exaggerated reality that is fuzzy and unreal.
Addiction makes choices for you that you would not otherwise make. Addiction often takes the romance out of relationships. |
Recovery Connection offers look up services for meetings in most areas around the United States. You can call them if you have a drug or alcohol problem and are seeking a local group to join 1-800-993-3869.
Al-Anon and Alateen (for teens) has been in existance for over 50 years. There are no dues or fees. http://www.al-anon-alateen.org
Interesting Facts
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One of the problems of alcoholism is the effect the disease has on people in close proximity to the alcoholic.
Next to family members, work colleagues are next in line to be affected by a person’s drinking.
In many cases, the work partners spend time trying to cover for the alcoholic, which prolongs the difficulties of working with an alcoholic and in actuality enables the person doing the drinking. |
Managing your disease should not be a lonely journey. Gathering as many support networks as possible will be beneficial to the goal of staying sober. As the saying goes: No man is an island. We all need human contact, understanding and compassion as we go through our life experiences. When a chronic disease is part of that life, it can be uplifting to know that you are not alone.
Alcoholism in the News
08/29/2008
Beacon House celebrates 15th anniversary of service (Fond du Lac Reporter)
Beacon House of Fond du Lac recently celebrated 15 years of helping women who are recovering from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency.
Beacon House celebrates 15th anniversary of service (Fond du Lac Reporter)
08/27/2008
Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)
Hawaii has one of the highest rates of alcoholism and drunk driving in the nation and the legislature may take steps to correct that. The house health committee held a hearing today to listen to the experts.
Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)
08/29/2008
CMU professor charged with three DUIs in rehab (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
A Carnegie Mellon University professor who was charged with drunken driving three times in eight days has checked into a Virginia treatment center for alcoholism, his lawyer said today.
CMU professor charged with three DUIs in rehab (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
08/29/2008
David Duchovny's sex disorder likened to alcoholism (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Did life imitate art when David Duchovny, who plays a sex-mad writer on the hit US TV show "Californication," seek treatment for sex addiction?
David Duchovny's sex disorder likened to alcoholism (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
08/29/2008
Jeannette Eyerly, Writer for Teenage Girls, Dies at 100 (New York Times)
Ms. Eyerly was one of the first writers for young adults to deal with themes like unwanted pregnancy, alcoholism and drugs.
Jeannette Eyerly, Writer for Teenage Girls, Dies at 100 (New York Times)
08/27/2008
Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)
Hawaii has one of the highest rates of alcoholism and drunk driving in the nation and the legislature may take steps to correct that. The house health committee held a hearing today to listen to the experts.
Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)
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